WA working on WWTP and Fire/EMS building

WEST ALEXANDRIA — During a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, West Alexandria Village Council approved three resolutions which would allow them to begin work on the new Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Council also approved the purchase of land for the new building.

First, Mayor Carol Lunsford noted Kurtis Strickland requested approval to use routing numbers, for the money that the village will be receiving and using to fund the new building.

Next, Lunsford stated she wanted to go into executive session to discuss the purchase of land, since that is what the owner requested, but she was advised against it.

Council was presented with the sale and preliminary agreement for the purchase of land. Lunsford added, they are only able to take what they need, which is 2.4 acres of land, plus or minus.

“I want to add that [the owner] has already been very cooperative. He has already allowed people on the land and I appreciate that. He has been great to work with. You see what his request is and I would like to entertain some comments. I think we are up against a rock and a hard place. We need what he has,” Lunsford said.

When questioned about the price the owner is requesting for the land, council member Shannon Smith explained the owner is asking for the value of the land he is selling and any value it would have accumulated for his family in the future.

“When I did the math, he is not far off [in his figure],” Smith said.

Lunsford thanked Smith for his help in getting this deal finalized.

At the previous council meeting, Councilman Jeff Hickey made a motion to draft a resolution which would halt the approval for construction on the new Fire and EMS building.

Lunsford indicated she discussed the issue with their solicitor, who assured her “everything [they] did was legal” during the special meeting. The motion can be brought up again for the $800,000 and the Mayor can break the tie.

At this point the resolution to approve the construction stands. The motion that Hickey made was to draft a resolution to rescind that approval, which would then go through three readings and have to be adopted. At this point, council is still waiting for the resolution to be drafted.

According to EMS Chief Tom Smith 2017 call volume was down from 2016. The village’s call volume went from 250 in 2016 to only 116 in 2017. Most runs were out in Lanier Township.

In other EMS news, Chief Smith said the generator was finalized and passed inspection, so it is officially up and running. Lanier and Twin Township gave West Alexandria their blessings to use ambulance reserve funds for a cot project.

Fire Chief Jeff Shafer reported their total call volume was 138, down 27 from 2016. He is also hosting the Fire Chief’s Association meeting at the station and requested funds from council, which they approved.

West Alexandria Village Council will meet next month on Monday, March 19 at 7 p.m. in the EMS building.